The French and Indian War The War That Made America

North America in 1750 What potential Problem does the Map reveal? Why was the Ohio River valley in Dispute by Britain And France?

The Region Today

New France: The 3rd Colony of the New World French claims dated back to 1608 Samuel de Champlain, “Father of New France”, founds Quebec Forms friendship w/ Huron Makes enemies w/ Iroquois

Characteristics of French settlement French settled along the interior Waterways of North America St. Lawrence, Great Lakes, Ohio River, Mississippi River Build forts & trading posts from New Orleans to Lake Michigan Control fur trade w/ tribes west of the Appalachian Mts. Never heavily populated Coureurs De Bois

French settlements

A History of War France, Spain and Britain battle for the control of North America, sub plot will be religion 1690 King William’s War 1690 Queen Anne’s War Peace of Utrecht 1713 – British gain Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and Hudson Bay, British gains pinch French land holdings War of Jenkin's Ear 1739 – naval war between France, Spain and Great Britain, Spain attacks colony of Georgia

Presentation of Jenkins’ Ear

Prelude to French and IndianWar 1750’s North America Three leading powers British French Iroquois Confederation

British Viewpoint Encourage settlement of western lands “Nothing can more effectively tend to defeat the dangerous designs of the French”

French Viewpoint French trace land claims back to early 1600’s, based on fur trade French to Native Americans on the British’ “The British will rob you of your country”

Native American viewpoint “We don’t know what you Christians, English and French together, intend. We are so hemmed in by both that we have hardly a hunting place left!”

The Iroquois

A Comparison French 60,000 people Claimed more land Single government Used professional soldiers Huron and Algonquin allies British 1.5 million people Several colonial governments Use colonial militias Fighting for homes Iroquois Allies

The French and Indian War Begins The French set up forts along to protect their fur trading interests. Some of these forts conflicted with English claims. Virginia Governor Dinwiddie dispatched a young George Washington in 1753 to deliver a protest to the French. This protest was ignored. The British sent a party to construct a fort on the site of modern Pittsburg. Young George Washington

The Battle of Fort Necessity A recreation of Ft. Necessity. The force was driven off by the French who, in turn, constructed Fort Duquesne on the site. The next year, Dinwiddie turned to Washington to expel the French from the site. Washington was quickly overwhelmed by superior French and Native American numbers. Washington had to retreat to the hastily constructed Fort Necessity, which he had to surrender shortly there after. This incident was a prelude to the French and Indian War.

Albany Plan of Union Ben Franklin – “Join or Die” Meeting of representatives from 7 colonies Two goals: form an alliance with Iroquois and coordinate colonial defense Delegate approve the plan Colonial legislatures reject plan Franklin – “weak noodles”

The Iroquois ally with the Britsh

“Join or Die” 1754 published by Ben Franklin Is considered by some to be the first political cartoon of the colonies.

From the Albany Plan of Union (1754) From the Constitution (1787) “[the President]…he shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed…” “[the President]…shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to make treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur…” “[Congress will] regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes…” “[Congress will] raise and support Armies…To provide and maintain a Navy…” “The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises…” 9. That the assent of the President-General be requisite to all acts of the Grand Council, and that it be his office and duty to cause them to be carried into execution. 10. That the President-General, with the advice of the Grand Council, hold or direct all Indian treaties… and make peace or declare war with Indian nations. 11. That they make such laws as they judge necessary for regulating all Indian trade. … 15. That they raise and pay soldiers and build forts for the defence of any of the Colonies… 16. That for these purposes they have power to make laws, and lay and levy such general duties, imposts, or taxes…

Quick Timeline Early British strategy – capture France’s interior forts 1755 – defeated at Duquesne, Frontenac, Niagara, Ticonderoga and Crown Point Duquesne British General Edward Braddock killed, Washington leads the retreat 1756 – official declaration of war 1757 – King George turns war over to William Pitt – sends more troops & spends more money

Fortunes Reverse In 1757, expansion advocate William Pitt became the British Prime Minister and vowed to lead country to victory. Pitt concentrated on: expelling the French from North America buying the cooperation by the colonists by stimulating the North American economy with a massive infusion of British currency buying the support of the Native Americans with promises of fixed territorial boundaries.

Timeline British change strategy, attack along the St. Lawrence 1758 – Jeffery Amherst takes Louisburg General John Forbes takes Duquesne 1758 Montcalm wins at Ticonderoga 1759 – Amherst takes Ticonderoga, Quebec falls to the British, Wolfe & Montcalm both killed

Timeline 1760 – Montreal falls to British 1763 Treaty of Paris – French control of Canada is over Britain gains and France loses most of India, North America east of the Mississippi River, Spain cedes Florida to Britain, gains New Orleans and Louisiana Territory from France Colonists emerge confident, battle tested, French threat removed and many Indians defeated

The Treaty of Paris The French transferred its claims west of the Mississippi to Spain and ceded its territory east of the Mississippi to the British.

Pontiac's Rebellion Native Americans quickly grew disenchanted with the British. The British exhibited little cultural sensitivity, traded unfairly, and failed to stop encroachments on Indian land. This unrest culminated in a rebellion by Pontiac, a Native American leader who united various tribes with the goal of expelling the British. The uprising lasted from 1763 to 1766. Massacres and atrocities occurred on both sides— most notably, British General Jeffrey Amherst gave the Native Americans blankets infested with smallpox.

Chief Pontiac: Address to Ottawa, Huron, and Pottawatomie Indians (May 5, 1763) “It is important … that we exterminate from our lands this nation which seeks only to destroy us. You see as well as I do that we can no longer supply our needs, as we have done from our brothers, the French. The English sells us goods twice as dear as the French do, and their goods do not last. … When I go to see the English commander and say to him that some of our comrades are dead, instead of bewailing their death, as our French brothers do, he laughs at me and at you. If I ask for anything for our sick, he refuses with the reply that he has no use for us. … Are we not men like them? … What do we fear? It is time.”

Proclamation of 1763 Halted settlement west of the Appalachians British wanted to negotiate peace with the Indians –due to Pontiac’s Rebellion Colonists wanted land

Proclamation of 1763 Colonists resented restrictions Had fought for the land Moved into the area illegally Opposition to British rule is heating up

The future of British rule Ben Franklin – ‘it is not merely improbable, it is impossible, I mean without the most grievous tyranny and oppression!” What does Ben Franklin mean?